[SPOILER ALERT: Do not read any further if you haven't seen – or don't want to find out details about – the most recent episode of "Smash."]

Say what you will about Monday night's "Smash," but it was certainly no slouch in the music department.

The four big performances (Karen's "Let Me Be Your Star," something of the show's theme song; her performance of "20th Century Fox"; her cover of "Call Me"; and Ivy's cover of "Crazy Dreams") were all tremendous. Let's just say they won't hurt business on iTunes.

While Karen fought and fought for the role of Marilyn, despite lacking at times in the dancing and performance department, Ivy immersed herself in Marilyn Monroe's life.
Julia dove right in to working on the show, and when she found out that the adoption would likely take years, her husband decided to start teaching again.

In the meantime, Anjelica Huston's Eileen finally had something to do, between fighting with her ex-husband and keeping Derek on as director of the show.

However, none of this (including the fact that Tom's assistant's main purpose seems to be to eavesdrop) was remotely as interesting as the competition between (still-haloed, despite missing her boyfriend's big dinner to rehearse) Karen and Ivy.

When Derek introduced the two of them, it seemed like (as Karen described it) he was playing mind games.

Of course, one can't forget that Karen refused to sleep with Derek in the premiere. Despite this, he seemed to be arguing her case with the writers and Eileen.

But no sooner than we thought we figured out Derek's game, Ivy ends up sleeping with him.

What seemed to be a long, drawn-out struggle for the role of Marilyn came to an end at the episode's conclusion (which seems only fair since, as Julia remarked, both of them were being tortured, not knowing).

And the winner of the big role was - Ivy!

So, where does it go from here? How does the fact that Ivy is in a relationship with Derek come into play? What is Karen's next move? Will there be another wrench thrown into the works that gives her a second chance at the role? Most importantly, will you keep watching?

Tell us what you thought of the episode, including the big decision, on iReport, or comment below.

soundoff(26 Responses)

Guest

Since I am the crowd this was supposed to appeal to, I can see why it is being cancelled. It was a horrible plot, bad acting and bad singing. I only watched the premier and it was like watching a train wreck. I kept waiting for it to improve!

I found this BRILLIANT Smash analysis “The Facts behind NBC Smash Crash” and I posted it on many sites. Expected more conversation but everybody agrees. Since I found it and didn’t have to write it, didn’t take to much time.

The show has a good cast of actors, but the show really is disappointing. I was looking forward to the show based on the hype, but I quit watching because the show is so predictable and lacks any depth.

Yes, unfortuneately "Smash" will probably get cancelled, because people don't enjoy quality TV, or, at the very least it takes them awhile to "catch on" and by that time the networks have canned the "unprofitable venture" what a shame, nature of the beast and all that, the very reason I rarely watch the networks anymore, very weak levels of commitment, all part of the dumbing down of America.....

The comparison to Studio 60 is spot on. But not because "the viewers do not like them." More likely the viewers do not understand or appreciate them. At the risk of sounding like a snob, studio 60 had one of the best and smartest pilots I have ever seen – the rest of the season was also a gem. Smash is not that smart, but for people who like singing and dancing, the show is fantastic.

There's a reason why jerry springer is still on. American audiences are dumb. Anything entertaining that is also challenging doesn't stand a chance.

The Facts behind NBC Smash Crash
Smash will be canceled by end of year

Just saw the half hour ratings for NBC Smash “As with last week, the show declined for its second half-hour (this time to a 2.5), indicating that the core audience actually enjoying the show is even lower than the overall rating suggests. “ WOW 3.1 for the first half hour and a 2.5 for the second half hour, what a huge drop. NBC Smash cannot even hold their own viewers. NBC Smash, the more people see it, the more they hate it.

Wow Smash dropped 26% from last week’s premiere, still has a strong lead in with the hit NBC The Voice but NBC Smash lost half its viewers from NBC The Voice. And NBC Smash gets beat in total viewers by both CBS Hawaii Five-0 and ABC Castle.

I read where media critics are saying NBC Smash looks like another The Event. And will be canceled by seasons end. At a cost of 3.5 million dollars episode (75% more costs than other shows) NBC needs much better ratings from Smash to be profitable. A lot of media experts are saying NBC should put another show in its place to take advantage of NBC The Voice ratings.

The NBC Smash Crash has started. Their ratings will plummet down from here.
As tvfreak said “I’m sick of calling steep ratings drops the Event Effect, Smash Crash is much better.”

Reasons for the NBC Smash Crash.
1. The only reason it started off well was that it followed NBC The Voice (which is a hit with monster ratings), and NBC heavily promoted Smash during the Super bowl, during The Voice, and on all their other shows.
2. NBC Smash is an insider show like Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, the critics like these shows but the viewers do not.
3. NBC Smash is up against CBS Hawaii Five-0 and ABC Castle (two superior shows)
4. NBC repeatedly showing repeats of NBC Smash (and NBC does this multiple times during the week of their original airings) will hurt their original airings
5. NBC Smash needs to go away for our Loved shows to survive and thrive.
6. NBC Smash is poorly written and acted.
7. NBC Smash is a rip-off of Fox Glee and an insult to Glee fans
8. NBC Smash is meant to appeal to people over 50,
9. Fox Glee is designed to appeal to the under 49 years old demographic and NBC Smash is designed to appeal to a much older demographic over 50 years old. As NBC said Smash was a Fox Glee for adults. NBC Smash every week is about a Broadway show about Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn Monroe died in 1962; she was 36 years old at the time of her death. Since she has been dead over 50 years she would be most relevant to old people over 50 years old.
10. With a cost of 3.5 million dollars an episode NBC Smash will need very high 18 – 49 ratings to be profitable, therefore it will canceled by the end of the year (even on NBC).
11. NBC Smash, the more people see it, the more they hate it.

All of you who don't like the show obviously don't appreciate the singing and dancing that happen in the theater. I bet you've never seen a broadway play either! Which makes you losers in the critique department. LOL

to many commercials. their a little bit to long. spaced badly try to air them so that you don't loose interest in the story line. It started out like gangbusters. I started to loose interested this week. I hope you don't screw it up.

Ivy, who is obsessed with Marilyn, will start to emulate Marilyn more and more and start abusing alcohol and pills, and Karen will have to step in (by season's end) from her position in the chorus to taking on the lead right before it opens!

Who says?? Anyway, I think Karen will be the understudy. Ivy seems too old to be Marilyn, but shes a good actress. Something's gonna happen and Karen will get her chance of course. Sleeping w/the Director didn't make any diff, he's a pig like most guys, he would have dumped her from the show either way if he wanted to.

Glee only stayed on coz teens liked that cute boys and girls on it and they sing teen songs. No way a musical about a musical about Marilyn will last on tv...no way. I watched it one and a half times, I dont particularly like musicals ex in person, and the storylines are so predictable it didn't hold my interest either. Byebye Smash...too bad, I like some of the cast.